The Orion Area Parade Group will present the 2005 Orion Area Holiday Lighted Parade on Dec. 3 at 6 p.m.
The parade’s theme this year is ‘Christmas on Broadway.?
Pre-parade festivities and entertainment start at 4:30 p.m. at the parade announcer stand, located on Broadway near Front Street.
The parade route begins at Blanche Sims Elementary at 465 Jackson in a residential area and will travel down Florence Street to Flint Street through the downtown area, and then back down Broadway to the Ehman Center at 55 Elizabeth Street.
Visitors can also enjoy the Hometown Holiday Village Celebration, presented by Downtown Lake Orion, with the lighting of the village at 5 p.m.
There will also be a craft tent for face painting and natural ornament creation for the kids. An Ultimate Gift Basket will be given away, and there will also be a Downtown Window Decorating contest in conjunction with the parade.
Kids who leave their letters to the North Pole for Santa Claus at the Downtown Lake Orion offices on Flint Street will receive a reply before Christmas.
The Hometown Holiday Village Celebration runs 3:30 p.m.-8 p.m. on Dec. 3.
The historic Union Church, currently under renovation, will be open to the public for viewing after the parade, and will be decorated for the season, with trees donated from Always Christmas at Olde World Canterbury Village.
The church will be open 7-9 p.m., and the Church Street Singers will sing carols. Visitors will be greeted by William E. Scripps and his wife Nina Downey Scripps, portrayed by local actors.
The Holiday Lighed Parade has illuminated the Village of Lake Orion for over 10 years on the first Saturday evening in Dec., starting the holiday season in Lake Orion.
Over 65 entries of floats, vehicles, fire trucks and marching bands from the local area participate in welcoming Santa Claus, as well as vying for parade entry awards.
Oakland County Judges Lisa Asadoorian, Nancy Carniak and Julie Nicholson traditionally select five entries for the Best Commercial Business, Best Non-Profit Organization, Best Government Organization, Best Theme Depiction and Most Uniquely Illuminated category awards.
The crowd can also vote for the People’s Choice Award during the parade. Santa Claus will arrive in his sleigh, hosted by Orion Township Parks and Recreation.
Santa will be at the Orion Senior Center after the parade.
The OAPG, sponsors of the event, will host U.S. Service Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan as honored guests in the parade this year.
Any service people who have or are serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, active or reserve, who are locally available for the event are invited to participate.
Interested veterans can contact OAPG by email at info@oapg.org, or call 693-0222. OAPG asks for the service member’s name, branch of service, unit information and local contact information.
The Lake Orion American Legion will provide the 338 US Army Band to march in the parade for the first time this year.
OAPG has been planning this year’s parade since July, and encourages interested organizations to enter the parade by completing an application at www.oapg.org, and forwarding it to OAPG. A $10 entry fee is requested.